Bush, the war in Iraq, and a troubled and war weary Nation

Bush has finally reached the conclusion the Nation is troubled and weary of the war in Iraq; pushing many political pundits to compare him to a war weary Lincoln.

Many are searching to find a "just war theory" to provide a moral and ethical cover for this dirty war in Iraq.

You can not compare Lincoln's very moral stance against the barbarism of the slave trade and the institution of slavery with Bush's intent to occupy Iraq for:

1. Oil

2. Regional domination

3. To support a bellicose Israel which continues to pursue a policy of treating Palestinians as if they have a non-human standing, much like the Native Americans of Lincoln's day.

Oh, ok, maybe there is a comparison between Bush and Jefferson Davis.

Going to war hurt Lincoln immensely... it cost this courageous and noble man his life... whereas Bush and his oil buddies... along with the CEO's of Halliburton, Blackwater and United States Information Services are making hefty profits from this war in Iraq without any personal risk at all.

I have studied the Civil War quite thoroughly, including visiting not only many of the Civil War battlefields in the South; I have spoken to many of the descendants who remain loyal supporters of slavery and the Confederacy in these communities... some of whom still hail Jefferson Davis as their hero as they look down upon Lincoln and have a great admiration for George Bush.

There is no "theory" of any kind which can justify what the United States is doing in Iraq, or Afghanistan, today; nor, the unconditional support for a bellicose Israel.

I am happy to see that morality and ethics is now entering into the discussion.

Lincoln had a conscience and really had to grapple with the human toll and suffering of the Civil War; I really don't believe George Bush has any concept of morality and ethical behavior in our modern world where dialogue and discussion over problems is considered the "norm" for most of humanity.

Many have pointed out that I have been using 21st century concepts of ethics and morality in judging those who settled Jamestown and introduced slavery to North America... now, I would encourage you to consider that peace through dialogue and mutual understanding and respect for one another is the morality of our contemporary world... there simply is no longer a place for theories that allow for "pre-emptive wars," certainly not pre-emptive wars that have been initiated based upon lies and deceit; I doubt you will find any theory, contemporary or otherwise, which would justify such a war.

Lincoln was very honest about the Civil War... he did not hide behind lie after lie after lie as George Bush does.

What did give Lincoln fits was the fact that Congress was allowing a large part of the Armed Forces to be engaged in a brutal campaign to exterminate Native Americans here in Minnesota and the Dakotas at a time he desperately needed these troops to help win the Civil War.

Bush's problems are all of his own making; Lincoln's problems were created by people with a mindset like Bush... but, you will probably accuse me of mixing the ethics and moralities over a one-hundred fifty year period... however, I have noticed that the military seems to have become dominated by generals of southern descent... I am thinking this may be something which requires some research to see if those who could not win the Civil War to continue slavery have risen to positions of great influence in the United States military establishment today as I have noticed a similarity in the way they think to those who continue to refuse to acknowledge the Confederacy lost the war and drive around with bumper stickers on their cars proclaiming their racism stating: "If we would have known; we would have picked our own cotton."

I would also note that this same military establishment frowned upon the man who exposed the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam teaching "ethics and morality" at West Point and other military academies... perhaps this is why torture, human debasement, and ignominy has been tolerated in Iraq, along with brutal and grotesque hangings very similar to the torture and mass hangings of Native Americans in Mankato, Minnesota which Lincoln so despised.

I would ask, why, at this present, advanced stage of human development any kind of "just war theory" would be needed when there isn't a single local, regional, or international problem which can not be resolved through dialogue and negotiation?

The fact is, no matter how morally and ethically wrong terrorism is no nation can wage "war" against terrorists--- it is simply an impossible task.

The only way to end terrorism is to deprive terrorists of the issues they claim "inspire" them to their immoral and dirty deeds... you apprehend and punish the terrorists as you would any other criminal as you try to resolve any legitimate problems they hide behind that are giving rise to their dirty deeds. You do not wage war against the people of an entire nation where you think these terrorists might be hiding out in holes in the desert or caves in the mountains.

Before even considering a "just war theory" which would involve military action it has to be determined if the military is the appropriate governmental department required for the job; to apprehend criminals--- terrorists--- you usually use the police who are supposedly trained for such tasks.

I find it quite amazing the FBI and the CIA can not locate Bin Laden after all these years especially since he was great chums with the CIA for so long and on their payroll, as were mafia hit-men.

After reading "The Family Jewels" I am thinking perhaps there is a slight problem with "ethics and morality" in our police agencies, in addition to our military, and the man in the executive office... perhaps Bush should have considered having a mafia hit-man slip Bin Laden the "pill" that was left over from the disgraceful attempted hit on Fidel Castro?

Actually, Daddy Bush, who was the head of the CIA, could have slipped Bin Laden the pill himself when he was wining and dining him... perhaps he was afraid Bin Laden would switch drinks with him.

Wouldn't this be a good time for Congress to consider impeachment?

Something to think about and ponder around the kitchen table.

"The Family Jewels" and the U.S. labor movement

Fidel Castro did the right thing in responding to "The Family Jewels." (see my previous blog)

Now, U.S. workers and union leaders should follow Castro's example because, in addition to the attempted hits made on Castro's life, what has come out in "The Family Jewels" is the "hit" made on U.S. workers and their unions as "The Family Jewels," with the disclosure which has gone without notice, that the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation--- working together--- were the controlling influence over both George Meaney and Walter Reuther; thus influencing the American and international labor movements to this very day.

Walter Reuther, Roy Reuther, and Victor Reuther were knowingly and willingly used by the F.B.I. and C.I.A. to disrupt the U.S. and international labor movements; for their "services" and deeds as dirty as any mafia hit man, they were paid very well.

The full story of this trail of dirty deeds and betrayals of the working class has yet to be told since most of the real and actual details involved in what have come to light in "The Family Jewels" have yet to be released and disclosed to the American and international public; however, from the mouth of Victor Reuther we gained a glimpse of what transpired.

I am somewhat surprised Fidel Castro did not pick up on this aspect of "The Family Jewels" because I am sure that when there is full disclosure of the hundreds of thousands of documents which will tell us the real story which the disclosure of "The Family Jewels" only kind of outlines, what we will find is that Castro and African leaders were not the only ones targeted for "hits;" the primary target of of all these dirty deeds was the working class movements in many countries.

The real story of how the C.I.A., F.B.I. and the Canadian Royal Canadian Mounted Police targeted the members and leadership of the Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers Union in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada needs to be fully disclosed; as does how the influence the C.I.A. purchased with George Meaney and the Reuther brothers both inside the U.A.W. and the C.I.O. together with the A.F.L.-C.I.O. affected the U.S. labor movement and the international labor movements.

In addition to Chile and now Venezuela, we see the dirty hands of the F.B.I. and C.I.A. involved in trying to promote the same kind of unrest in China which they created in Eastern European socialist countries and the Soviet Union which I assume are included in the "blacked out" portions of "The Family Jewels."

A Lansing, Michigan U.A.W. leader has already disclosed that both he and his wife were both recruited for this dirty work in the Soviet Union by being led to believe they would be helping "democratize" and "modernize" the Soviet trade unions but upon being given their duties in the Soviet Union quickly realized they were doing the bidding of the C.I.A. and F.B.I... talk about being duped.

Unlike the Reuther brothers who were eager to work for the C.I.A. in building a labor empire based upon class collaboration which required kicking the "reds" out of the labor movement, this Lansing U.A.W. couple was deceived and used because of their close association with the Communist Party, U.S.A. which was used by the F.B.I. and C.I.A. in carrying out their dirty deeds in undermining socialism.

As we have seen in the struggle for power now taking place in Venezuela the C.I.A. still has considerable influence in the top leadership levels of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. which remains involved in doing the dirty work for the C.I.A.

"The Family Jewels" at least provides us with substantiating the dirty deeds we all knew about but were never able to "prove" concerning the attempted hits made on the life of the heroic revolutionary Cuban leader, Fidel Castro; but, we do not yet know the "hit" the U.S. labor movement has taken as everything is still concealed, other than the fact that the corrupt George Meaney and the despicable Reuther brothers--- Walter, Roy, and Victor, were in fact employed by the C.I.A. and the F.B.I.

We have a very good idea what services George Meaney and Walter, Roy, and Victor Reuther provided to the C.I.A. and the F.B.I. (not to mention their invaluable services to the corporations employing millions of workers they were betraying while pretending to represent their interest while ripping off the workers by taking union dues as payment on the one hand, while on the other hand collecting their biggest pay checks from this cabal cobbled together by the C.I.A. and F.B.I.--- for undermining the standard of the very workers who believed their union leaders were working in their best interest.

The American working class needs to know the full and complete details of all of this in order to gain a better understanding and education of how U.S. imperialism operates.

The time has come to open up all F.B.I. and C.I.A. files relating to "The Family Jewels" by starting with the full disclosure of the dirty deeds carried out by the C.I.A., F.B.I., George Meaney and the Reuther brothers--- Walter, Roy, and Victor.

I hope Fidel Castro will use his influence and stature as an international leader to insist on full and open disclosure of all the files associated with "The Family Jewels."

For too long American workers have been hobbled in their understanding of how capitalism and its most decadent, barbaric, parasitic (and murderous) stage of imperialism operates in keeping its dirty deeds and machinations hidden from public view by a ruling class which has pretended and feigned ignorance of its dirty and disruptive deeds; worse yet, even when caught continuing on with their outright lies of denial with both the Castro hits and the Meany-Reuther payoffs now a matter of public record--- the full and complete story needing to be told.

Democracy requires no less.

We need to be aware, that these dirty birds in the C.I.A. and F.B.I. will be telling us what we have glimpsed from "The Family Jewels" in the way U.S. imperialism has operated is all in the past. Ya, sure; you betcha.

The Killing Machine; By Fidel Castro

Note: Here is the complete pdf file for "The Family Jewels" (It is 703 pages):
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB222/family_jewels_full.pdf


July 9, 2007

Reflections from a Target of the CIA

The Killing Machine

By Fidel Castro

It was announced that the CIA would be declassifying hundreds of pages on illegal actions that included plans to eliminate the leaders of foreign governments. Suddenly the publication is halted and it is delayed one day. No coherent explanation was given. Perhaps someone in the White House looked over the material.

The first package of declassified documents goes by the name of "The Family Jewels"; it consists of 702 pages on illegal CIA actions between 1959 and 1973. About 100 pages of this part have been deleted. It deals with actions that were not authorized by any law, plots to assassinate other leaders, experiments with drugs on human beings to control their minds, spying on civil activists and journalists, among other similar activities that were expressly prohibited.

The documents began to be gathered together 14 years after the first of the events took place, when then CIA director, James Schlessinger became alarmed about what the press was writing, especially all the articles by Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein published in The Washington Post, already mentioned in the "Manifesto to the People of Cuba". The agency was being accused of promoting spying in the Watergate Hotel with the participation of its former agents Howard Hunt and James McCord.

In May 1973, the Director of the CIA was demanding that "all the main operative officials of this agency must immediately inform me on any ongoing or past activity that might be outside of the constituting charter of this agency". Schlessinger, later appointed Head of the Pentagon, had been replaced by William Colby. Colby was referring to the documents as "skeletons hiding in a closet". New press revelations forced Colby to admit the existence of the reports to interim President Gerald Ford in 1975. The New York Times was denouncing agency penetration of antiwar groups. The law that created the CIA prevented it from spying inside the United States.

That "was just the tip of the iceberg", said then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Kissinger himself warned that "blood would flow" if other actions were known, and he immediately added: "For example, that Robert Kennedy personally controlled the operation for the assassination of Fidel Castro". The President's brother was then Attorney General of the United States. He was later murdered as he was running for President in the 1968 elections, which facilitated Nixon's election for lack of a strong candidate. The most dramatic thing about the case is that apparently he had reached the conviction that John Kennedy had been victim of a conspiracy. Thorough investigators, after analyzing the wounds, the caliber of the shots and other circumstances surrounding the death of the President, reached the conclusion that there had been at least three shooters. Solitary Oswald, used as an instrument, could not have been the only shooter. I found that rather striking. Excuse me for saying this but fate turned me into a shooting instructor with a telescopic sight for all the Granma expeditionaries. I spent months practicing and teaching, every day; even though the target is a stationary one it disappears from view with each shot and so you need to look for it all over again in fractions of a second.

Oswald wanted to come through Cuba on his trip to the USSR. He had already been there before. Someone sent him to ask for a visa in our country's embassy in Mexico but nobody knew him there so he wasn't authorized. They wanted to get us implicated in the conspiracy. Later, Jack Ruby, --a man openly linked to the Mafia-- unable to deal with so much pain and sadness, as he said, assassinated him, of all places, in a precinct full police agents.

Subsequently, in international functions or on visits to Cuba, on more than one occasion I met with the aggrieved Kennedy relatives, who would greet me respectfully. The former president's son, who was a very small child when his father was killed, visited Cuba 34 years later. We met and I invited him to dinner.

The young man, in the prime of his life, and well brought up, tragically died in an airplane accident on a stormy night as he was flying to Martha's Vineyard with his wife. I never touched on the thorny issue with any of those relatives. In contrast, I pointed out that if the president-elect had then been Nixon instead of Kennedy, after the Bay of Pigs disaster we would have been attacked by the land and sea forces escorting the mercenary expedition, and both countries would have paid a high toll in human lives. Nixon would not have limited himself to saying that victory has many fathers and defeat is an orphan. For the record, Kennedy was never too enthusiastic about the Bay of Pigs adventure; he was led there by Eisenhower's military reputation and the recklessness of his ambitious vice-president.

I remember that, exactly on the day and minute he was assassinated, I was speaking in a peaceful spot outside of the capital with French journalist Jean Daniel. He told me that he was bringing a message from President Kennedy. He said to me that in essence he had told him: "You are going to see Castro. I would like to know what he thinks about the terrible danger we just experienced of a thermonuclear war. I want to see you again as soon as you get back." "Kennedy was very active; he seemed to be a political machine", he added, and we were not able to continue talking as someone rushed in with the news of what had just happened. We turned on the radio. What Kennedy thought was now pointless.

Certainly I lived with that danger. Cuba was both the weakest part and the one that would take the first strike, but we did not agree with the concessions that were made to the United States. I have already spoken of this before.

Kennedy had emerged from the crisis with greater authority. He came to recognize the enormous sacrifices of human lives and material wealth made by the Soviet people in the struggle against fascism. The worst of the relations between the United States and Cuba had not yet occurred by April 1961. When he hadn't resigned himself to the outcome of the Bay of Pigs, along came the Missile Crisis. The blockade, economic asphyxiation, pirate attacks and assassination plots multiplied. But the assassination plots and other bloody occurrences began under the administration of Eisenhower and Nixon.

After the Missile Crisis we would have not refused to talk with Kennedy, nor would we have ceased being revolutionaries and radical in our struggle for socialism. Cuba would have never severed relations with the USSR as it had been asked to do. Perhaps if the American leaders had been aware of what a war could be using weapons of mass destruction they would have ended the Cold War earlier and differently. At least that's how we felt then, when there was still no talk of global warming, broken imbalances, the enormous consumption of hydrocarbons and the sophisticated weaponry created by technology, as I have already said to the youth of Cuba. We would have had much more time to reach, through science and conscience, what we are today forced to realize in haste.

President Ford decided to appoint a Commission to investigate the Central Intelligence Agency. "We do not want to destroy the CIA but to preserve it", he said.

As a result of the Commission's investigations that were led by Senator Frank Church, President Ford signed an executive order which expressly prohibited the participation of American officials in the assassinations of foreign leaders.

The documents published now disclose information about the CIA-Mafia links for my assassination.

Details are also revealed about Operation Chaos, carrying on from 1969 for at least seven years, for which the CIA created a special squadron with the mission to infiltrate pacifist groups and to investigate "the international activities of radicals and black militants". The Agency compiled more than 300,000 names of American citizens and organizations and extensive files on 7,200 persons.

According to The New York Times, President Johnson was convinced that the American anti-War movement was controlled and funded by Communist governments and he ordered the CIA to produce evidence.

The documents recognize, furthermore, that the CIA spied on various journalists like Jack Anderson, performers such as Jane Fonda and John Lennon, and the student movements at Columbia University. It also searched homes and carried out tests on American citizens to determine the reactions of human beings to certain drugs.

In a memorandum sent to Colby in 1973, Walter Elder who had been executive assistant to John McCone, CIA Director in the early 1970s, gives information about discussions in the CIA headquarters that were taped and transcribed: "I know that whoever worked in the offices of the director were worried about the fact that these conversations in the office and on the phone were transcribed. During the McCone years there were microphones in his regular offices, the inner office, the dining room, the office in the East building, and in the study of his home on White Haven Street. I don't know if anyone is ready to talk about this, but the information tends to be leaked, and certainly the Agency is vulnerable in this case".

The secret transcripts of the CIA directors could contain a great number of "jewels". The National Security Archive is already requesting these transcripts.

A memo clarifies that the CIA had a project called OFTEN which would collect "information about dangerous drugs in American companies", until the program was terminated in the fall of 1972. In another memo there are reports that manufacturers of commercial drugs "had passed" drugs to the CIA which had been "refused due to adverse secondary effects".

As part of the MKULTRA program, the CIA had given LSD and other psycho-active drugs to people without their knowledge. According to another document in the archive, Sydney Gottlieb, a psychiatrist and head of chemistry of the Agency Mind Control Program, is supposedly the person responsible for having made available the poison that was going to be used in the assassination attempt on Patrice Lumumba.

CIA employees assigned to MHCHAOS ­the operation that carried out surveillance on American opposition to the war in Vietnam and other political dissidents ­expressed "a high level of resentment" for having been ordered to carry out such missions.

Nonetheless, there is a series of interesting matters revealed in these documents, such as the high level at which the decisions for actions against our country were taken.

The technique used today by the CIA to avoid giving any details is not the unpleasant crossed out bits but the blank spaces, coming from the use of computers.

For The New York Times, large censored sections reveal that the CIA still cannot expose all the skeletons in its closets, and many activities developed in operations abroad, checked over years ago by journalists, congressional investigators and a presidential commission, are not in the documents.

Howard Osborn, then CIA Director of Security, makes a summary of the "jewels" compiled by his office. He lists eight cases ­including the recruiting of the gangster Johnny Roselli for the coup against Fidel Castro ­but they crossed out the document that is in the number 1 place on Osborn's initial list: two and a half pages.

"The No. 1 Jewel of the CIA Security Offices must be very good, especially since the second one is the list for the program concerning the assassination of Castro by Roselli," said Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive who requested the declassification of "The Family Jewels" 15 years ago under the Freedom of Information Act.

It is notable that the administration which has declassified the least information in the history of the United States, and which has even started a process of reclassifying information that was previously declassified, now makes the decision to make these revelations.

I believe that such an action could be an attempt to present an image of transparency when the government is at an all time low rate of acceptance and popularity, and to show that those methods belong to another era and are no longer in use. When he announced the decision, General Hayden, current CIA Director, said: "The documents offer a look at very different times and at a very different Agency."

Needless to say that everything described here is still being done, only in a more brutal manner and all around the planet, including a growing number of illegal actions within the very United States.

The New York Times wrote that intelligence experts consulted expressed that the revelation of the documents is an attempt to distract attention from recent controversies and scandals plaguing the CIA and an Administration that is living through some of its worst moments of unpopularity.

The declassification could also be an attempt at showing, in the early stages of the electoral process that the Democratic administrations were as bad, or worse, than Mr. Bush's.

In pages 11 to 15 of the Memo for the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, we can read:

"In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards with the objective of determining whether the Security Office had agents who could help in a confidential mission that required gangster-style action. The target of the mission was Fidel Castro.

"Given the extreme confidentiality of the mission, the project was known only to a small group of people. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency was informed and he gave it his approval. Colonel J. C. King, Head of the Western Hemisphere Division, was also informed, but all the details were deliberately concealed from officials of Operation JMWAVE. Even though some officials of Communications (Commo) and the Technical Services Division (TSD) took part in initial planning phases, they were not aware of the mission's purpose.

"Robert A. Maheu was contacted, he was informed in general terms about the project, and he was asked to evaluate whether he could get access to gangster-type elements as a first step for achieving the desired goal.

"Mr. Maheu informed that he had met with a certain Johnny Roselli on several occasions while he was visiting Las Vegas. He had only met him informally through clients, but he had been told that he was a member of the upper echelons of the 'syndicate' and that he was controlling all the ice machines on the Strip. In Maheu's opinion, if Roselli was in effect a member of the Clan, he undoubtedly had connections that would lead to the gambling racket in Cuba.

"Maheu was asked to get close to Roselli, who knew that Maheu was a public relations executive looking after national and foreign accounts, and tell him that recently he had been contracted by a client who represented several international business companies, which were suffering enormous financial losses in Cuba due to Castro. They were convinced that the elimination of Castro would be a solution to their problem and they were ready to pay $ 150,000 for a successful outcome. Roselli had to be made perfectly aware of the fact that the U.S. government knew nothing, nor could it know anything, about this operation.

"This was presented to Roselli on September 14, 1960 in the Hilton Plaza Hotel of New York City. His initial reaction was to avoid getting involved but after Maheu's persuasive efforts he agreed to present the idea to a friend, Sam Gold, who knew "some Cubans". Roselli made it clear that he didn't want any money for his part in all this, and he believed that Sam would do likewise. Neither of these people was ever paid with Agency money.

"During the week of September 25, Maheu was introduced to Sam who was living at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. It was not until several weeks after meeting Sam and Joe ­who was introduced as courier operating between Havana and Miami ­that he saw photos of these two individuals in the Sunday section of Parade. They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana and Santos Trafficante, respectively. Both were on the Attorney General's list of the ten most wanted. The former was described as the boss of the Cosa Nostra in Chicago and Al Capone's heir, and the latter was the boss of Cuban operations of the Cosa Nostra. Maheu immediately called this office upon learning this information.

"After analyzing the possible methods to carry out this mission, Sam suggested that they not resort to firearms but that, if they could get hold of some kind of deadly pill, something to be put into Castro's food or drink, this would be a much more effective operation. Sam indicated that he had a possible candidate in the person of Juan Orta, a Cuban official who had been receiving bribery payments in the gambling racket, and who still had access to Castro and was in a financial bind.

"The TSD (Technical Services Division) was requested to produce 6 highly lethal pills.

"Joe delivered the pills to Orta. After several weeks of attempts, Orta appears to have chickened out and he asked to be taken off the mission. He suggested another candidate who made several unsuccessful."

Everything that was said in the numerous paragraphs above is in quotes. Observe well, dear readers, the methods that were already being used by the United States to rule the world.

I remember that during the early years of the Revolution, in the offices of the National Institute for Agrarian Reform, there was a man working there with me whose name was Orta, who had been linked to the anti-Batista political forces. He was a respectful and serious man. But, it could only be him. The decades have gone by and I see his name once more in the CIA report. I can't lay my hands on information to immediately prove what happened to him. Accept my apologies if I involuntarily have offended a relative or a descendent, whether the person I have mentioned is guilty or not.

The empire has created a veritable killing machine that is made up not only of the CIA and its methods. Bush has established powerful and expensive intelligence and security super-structures, and he has transformed all the air, sea and land forces into instruments of world power that take war, injustice, hunger and death to any part of the globe, in order to educate its inhabitants in the exercise of democracy and freedom. The American people are gradually waking up to this reality.

"You cannot fool all of the people all of the time", said Lincoln.

Progressives and the Middle East; and "progressive" impostors

I received an e-mail that contained this:

The second reason that peace leaders fail to criticize the leading pro-war lobby is because of the influence of pro-Israel ‘progressives’ in the movement. These progressives condition their support of ‘peace in Iraq’ only if the movement does not criticize the pro-war Israel lobby in and outside
the US government, the role of Israel as a belligerent partner to the US in Lebanon, Palestine and Kurdish Northern Iraq. A movement claiming to be in favor of peace, which refuses to attack the main proponents of war, is pursuing irrelevance....

I agree completely with the statement: "A movement claiming to be in favor of peace, which refuses to attack the main proponents of war, is pursuing irrelevance...."

This question of "progressives" supporting the pro-war, right-wing policies of the Israeli government and the right-wing Israeli lobby here in the United States is a very basic and most important question, in my opinion, also.

I don't think it is so much real "progressives" that we are speaking of; but, rather, people who are posturing as "progressives" and who are opportunistically using the term "progressive" in order to cover-up their real agenda which is, in fact, a corrupt, reactionary, big-business agenda right down the line from supporting the war in Iraq and the Israeli bloodbath and subjugation and repression of the Palestinian people to a host of other reactionary items on their agenda that have nothing at all in common with progressivism which they are trying to pass off as "progressive" in order to hoodwink, us, and the American public.

Why might anyone be so dishonest?

Because, did you ever hear of anyone putting forward a "reactionary" agenda and getting elected to public office? Republicans have already cornered the market on "conservative."

In the Democratic Party, these reactionaries, which are clearly aligned with the likes of Hillary Clinton, Walter Mondale, Minnesota's United States Senator Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar and other opportunists of this ilk can get no where by describing themselves as "moderate," [a label they in fact attach to themselves] which means absolutely nothing to most people... other then they just kind of stand in the middle of the road like fools waiting to get run over... ever heard of anyone putting forward a "moderate" agenda and actually getting elected? Again, the distinction between the "moderate" label... and a "moderate agenda." Moderates never run their campaigns claiming a "moderate agenda," this would be the kiss of death at the polls. Instead they look to pass themselves off as liberals or progressives... the American electorate is clearly beyond, and to the left of liberalism, and is insisting on nothing less than a more radical progressive alternative to the reactionary Republican agenda. Hence these moderates have tried to hijack the progressive label in using it to dishonestly hide their real aims.

Obviously, if these people wrapped themselves in the "conservative" label, where they and their reactionary ideas and their pro-war agenda really belong, they couldn't make it to first base among Democratic voters... they would strike out at the polls every time; which had been occurring for many years if you recall.

Take a look at what these people have done... they hired a linguist, George Lakoff, who advised them, for a very handsome fee, that "packaging" is everything. Use slick packaging making any outlandish claim for a product, wrap it in fancy, smancy packaging and you will sell it.

In his popular little booklet which has paid off handsomely for Lakoff, "Don't Think of an Elephant!" Lakoff is very clear. Lakoff is only for "framing" issues for the purpose of bringing into the political debate progressive sounding policy directions, AND he emphatically advises these "moderate" Democrats to never, ever put forward any specific solutions to any problems. Read the book; see for yourself; this is all spelled out very clearly... and, very cleverly in order to try to suck us all in to "winning." What is won, though? The war goes on just like people go without health care working for a minimum wage that insures a lifetime of poverty.

Lakoff would like us to believe progressives can't really win on a genuine progressive platform which provides concrete solutions to the very real problems in our country and the world. Is Lakoff correct…? I say he isn't.

In fact, contrary to Lakoff's "theory" aimed at making a mockery of the science of linguistics, progressives can win; and, when putting forward intelligently framed progressive policy directions accompanied with real solutions to problems progressive do win in the United States like they do in any other country in the world. There are numerous current and historic examples.

With this book, "Don't Think of an Elephant!" Lakoff has hoodwinked many real progressives who should know better... however, real progressives have been desperate for finding a way to bring their ideas forward into the mainstream of American politics so even many real progressives have bought into Lakoff's advice dished out explicitly for this bunch of so-called "moderate" democrats... I can't stress this enough--- Lakoff's advice is tailored to these so-called moderates… not to real progressives except to lure us into a sinking ship. Moderates, who, if we examine their positions in regard to race issues, women's equality, peace, environmental and global warming, and most especially labor issues and on capitalism, we find these so-called "moderates" to in fact be very reactionary... again, Hillary Clinton is our prime example... in fact all the announced and leading Democratic candidates for President in the double-digits are prime and classic examples.

They could never get elected on their real pro-business, pro-war, anti-labor reactionary agenda. This is why, for real progressives to continue to advocate for the "lesser of two evils" is a losing proposition because all we end up getting is evil in one form or another; corrupt politicians whose goal is to drive down our standard of living and carry forward the aims of U.S. imperialism which means a never ending cycle of wars, along with social and economic injustices.

Maybe we should clearly define the basic hallmarks of real progressivism.

Real progressivism is based on a world outlook which holds that all life is sacred and war, in our modern world, is not a solution to local, regional, or international problems. Real progressives believe as Lincoln did--- that labor is to be respected and all forms of human exploitation, be it chattel slavery or exploitation of labor in any form must be rejected, and that labor is the superior of capital. Real progressives would never tolerate the Israeli occupation of another people's homeland and sit in silence in the face of the continued Israeli campaign of carnage and repression against the Palestinian people.

Jimmy Carter, who is among these "moderate" politicians has had the courage to break ranks and take a genuinely progressive stand on the Israeli-Palestinian question and has the moral courage to bring forward the concept that Palestinians are human beings like any of us... he hasn't really brought forward a specific "progressive" solution into the debate; at least not yet; however, and this is a very important "however," he does insist that dialogue is the solution to the problems in the Middle East rather than war... obviously for progressives, too, this is the basic, fundamentally necessary first step towards a lasting peace in the Middle East. We can live with a moderate who has the courage to join with us in advocating the first step towards peace.

Yet, Jimmy Carter has been viciously attacked by his moderate friends for taking this courageous stand.

For bringing forward my ideas about peace in the Middle East and speaking out against the continued Israeli carnage I have been targeted for the most vicious attack aimed at trying to silence me and drive me from the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party; this attack is pretty much summed up in an e-mail I received from a sitting judge, who wrote: "Maki, you must be fucking an Arab bitch." This was in response to my suggestion that a special meeting of the State Central Committee of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party be called to have a dialogue, discuss, and debate what our position should be on ending the carnage and bloodbath in the Middle East.

Unlike Jimmy Carter, we have a life-long, true and very real progressive like George McGovern who has brought forward in his "Blueprint" to end the war in Iraq which embodies very specific progressive solutions backed up by progressive policy directions which have been framed very well.

McGovern's "Blueprint" is like poison to these "progressive" posers and impostors who have deceptively, opportunistically and dishonestly wrapped themselves in the "progressive" label in the very same way the so-called patriots wrap themselves in the American flag and send everyone else off to fight their dirty wars as they reap the spoils and profits simply by clipping their Wall Street coupons without dirtying their hands.

To these "progressive" impostors and posers, George McGovern has committed the deadliest sin of all according to George Lakoff who specifically warns against: framing an issue from a progressive policy position, and then putting forward a real solution; solution is what we need to hone in on.

It would seem to me real progressives need to find a way to mature to the point where they can work with moderates like Carter when he brings forward a progressive viewpoint which sets forth a progressive "first step" solution aimed at ending this bloodshed in the Middle East on the basis of self-determination along with advocating full respect and equality for the Palestinian people... and who knows, Jimmy Carter may find an eventual home in the real progressive movement--- stranger things have been known to occur... he has displayed many exemplary humanitarian traits that coincide with real progressive ideals on numerous occasions since leaving public office.

Anyone can contrast the views of Jimmy Carter to those of his former Vice-President--- Walter Mondale, and see a very significant difference. Mondale has called for more wars... war against Iran... a pre-emptive strike against North Korea; continued unconditional support for the bestial and inhuman policies of an expansionist Israel. When it comes to being a "progressive," Mondale is the embodiment of a worthless charlatan and a fraud. Jimmy Carter on the other hand has been moving in a genuinely progressive direction on numerous issues... if he doesn't make the complete turn to progressivism; it is not for lack of trying… it may be for the lack of progressives reaching out a hand.

Getting back to George McGovern... the "progressive" impostors and posers have done a real number on McGovern--- so, what is new, they have been smearing him for years, five decades in fact... because he was an unflinching progressive political proponent of the New Deal and political ally of Frances Perkins, the feisty progressive Secretary of Labor in the New Deal government of Franklin Roosevelt who wasn't afraid to have friends like Communist Party leader Earl Browder; the heroic Communist Party member and leader of the West Coast Longshore Union, Harry Bridges; and, Minnesota's real progressives, socialist governors Floyd B. Olson and Elmer Benson and the Communist Party member of the United States Congress from the Iron Range, John Bernard--- all three overwhelmingly elected on the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party ticket in the 1930's.

In fact, when reactionaries tried to rattle her cage by quoting to her from Karl Marx' Communist Manifesto, a liking it to the social programs she advocated, Perkins responded by humorously saying she was glad to see someone agreed with her.

How do these "progressive" posers and impostors attack McGovern's "Blueprint" for ending this dirty war in Iraq? They again turn to smearing him; claiming "we" can't be associated with such a "loser" when in fact, long-time serving, continually re-elected United States Senator George McGovern, who wore his progressive label on his shirt sleeves and in the legislation he authored and in every speech he delivered, in every discussion with constituents would have won the presidency had not these very same "moderates," who now make the claim--- a knowingly false and dishonest claim--- of being "progressive;" if they would not have sat out the election twiddling their thumbs and picking their noses as they with-held the resources of the Democratic Party from McGovern which he would have needed in order to be elected President--- these "progressive" posers were responsible for McGovern losing and throwing our Nation to the vultures and the wolves who were already circling over us as if we were road-kill… as a result--- for over thirty-five years now the New Deal has been under attack, rolled-back, and pulverized.

In fact, these "moderate" Democrats now posing as "progressives," gave us, and the world, Richard Nixon--- not to mention giving us tens of thousands of American G.I.'s returned from Vietnam in body bags while killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese in who knows how many My Lai Massacres which has left our country deeply in debt to this very day.

Since then they have rolled over and acquiesced to the Republican big-business agenda.

It is not true "progressives" advocating support for the right-wing, warmongering policies of the Israeli government which fronts for U.S. imperialism like corrupt Native American tribal officials front for organized crime in the casino industry... and note who is among the first to endorse Hillary Clinton and who has been among the foremost defenders of the right-wing, warmongering, Israeli government here in Minnesota politics... one Melanie Benjamin... the head of a casino empire where thousands of workers are employed in casinos filled with second-hand smoke, without any rights under state, federal, or tribal labor laws and without any voice at work or in the communities where they reside--- all receiving poverty wages--- as the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party turns over its home page website to Ms. Benjamin to pontificate and lecture about human rights!

Imagine that... one who denies thousands of casino workers their most basic and fundamental human rights and calls for continued support for the reactionary policies of the Israeli government... and, what label is attached to Melanie Benjamin by herself and her friends in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party? You guessed it... she is a "progressive!" Not just any "progressive," but a "PROGRESSIVE!!!!" Melanie Benjamin is touted as a "progressive supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton." She joins Walter Mondale in being anointed to "progressive" standing in the MN DFL.

Now, figure this out... Minnesota DFL state representative Bernie Lieder boasted to the news media just days before the election that he was more conservative than his Bush-Cheney, war supporting anti-single-payer, universal health care loving Republican opponent, yet Lieder's campaign literature stated that he was a "progressive."

Progressives have in fact been a dominant force in American politics when truthfully asserting their progressive agenda for peace and social justice. Under the progressive banner the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party dominated the political landscape in Minnesota for years with a legacy that cannot be destroyed. Even Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty was forced to acknowledge in his keynote address before the last Republican State Convention that he could not break through this barrier of progressivism in Minnesota which has become, what he described, as a "tradition."

The New Deal Administration of the 1930's and into the 1940's was truly "progressive" representing Americans from all walks of life and was a marvelous progressive undertaking; brought to an end by Harry Truman--- the idol of these "moderate" Democrats.

There are the examples of progressivism from North Dakota and South Dakota; Wisconsin and New York and California.

We need to be careful we do not fall into the trap of allowing these phony politicians the opportunity to hijack real progressivism in the name of political opportunism. In fact, we don't even need the Hillary Clintons and this bunch of "progressive" posers and impostors.

What we do need to do, is carefully lay a firm foundation for a truly progressive movement with a well framed progressive agenda which includes real solutions to the real problems people are experiencing; again, I stress… "solutions." People are looking for solutions to all these problems.

Here in Minnesota the reactionary leadership of the Minnesota DFL which has deceitfully and dishonestly wrapped itself in the cloak of "progressivism" has tried to manipulate and control the peace movement by insisting that those who support the rights of the Palestinian people be excluded from the peace movement, as well silenced in the MN DFL if they dare to stand up and criticize the warmongering, racist, and repressive policies of the Israeli government.

The specific methods they use include forcing the "Progressive Caucus" to agree to support all candidates endorsed by the MN DFL. Why anyone would be so week-minded to agree to such shenanigans I will never understand.

We saw this at the last MN DFL state convention when the well known peace activist Charley Underwood decided at the last minute to challenge the nomination of Amy Klobuchar for United States Senate… he was given a "loyalty oath" which he agreed to: "Will you support the nominated candidate of the MN DFL if you do not receive the endorsement of the convention?" He responded, "Yes." Even though he knew that in spite of his excellent speech condemning this dirty war in Iraq--- even though he did not dare to criticize Israel's warmongering policies--- he knew he was not going to be nominated, and Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar would get the nomination. He and others from the Progressive Caucus and members of the State Central Committee were repeatedly warned they would be removed from their positions should they do otherwise. Well, I am still here; not only did I not endorse Klobuchar, but I urged people not to vote for her and I didn't vote for her myself. Even the popular, truly progressive, anti-war and pro single-payer, universal health care candidate, Ford Bell, who had been challenging Klobuchar, was done in by the Israeli lobby in the MN DFL.

Given that this is the way these "progressive" impostors and frauds maintain their control together with smear and hate campaigns progressives are going to have to consider some alternatives.

In my opinion, what needs to be done is that progressives need to use more tact. What we need to do is remain active inside the Democratic Party without fearing going outside of the Democratic Party to pursue our progressive agenda. Democracy requires such an approach. One way of doing this is for progressives to get behind a candidate in the primaries and, if not successful, have another candidate ready to move into the general election.

In fact, in West Michigan, a similar tactic successfully led to Richard Vanderveen being the first Democrat--- a progressive anti-Vietnam War Democrat--- in years to attain the 5th District Congressional seat after Jerry Ford held the seat for many years. (Vanderveen lost after the professional political hacks got their clutches on him and convinced him his populist progressive message was a fluke and he wouldn't win again without moving to the center--- sound familiar?; well it was losing advice; when he asked me what I thought, I told him he would lose if he budged from his progressive agenda.)

As progressives we should consider this tactic; it works. People have a right to vote for candidates that reflect their views… in the United States today people want to have a real progressive option… this is evident with the clear signs of let-down and disappointment when Democrats continued to cave in to Bush and Cheney after the last election.

There was clearly a time when there was the need to consider the lesser of two evils, in my opinion. This is not such a time. As progressives, we have the majority of humanity in all countries now moving along the progressive road--- this is our "protection." We need not fear the danger from the right to the extent we have to hold our noses every time we enter the voting booth whether it is for drain commissioner, county commissioner, state or federal elected officials; or the president.

What we need to do is strategize; and, we need to serve notice on these frauds and impostors posing under the guise of "progressivism" that we really do dare to step outside of the two-party system, and we dare to do so in a way where we dare to win… not worrying if these progressive impostors lose.

Part of our strategy that should be considered is running in very close and hotly contested races so that these progressive fakers know that we mean business. A big part of politics is demonstrating having the power to make or break other candidates. It is not of our making, or our fault, that these "progressive" posers can not win elections without our support… and, they can't.

There is no reason why peace and social justice organizations shouldn't be seeking ballot status. For instance, why shouldn't "Minnesotans for Peace and Social Justice" be on the ballot, and be fielding candidates for public office? I think the time is now.

I have been mulling this over for quite some time… anyone else thinking along these lines? If so, let's talk. We can get together around your kitchen table, or mine.

Alan L. Maki

Employee Free Choice Act isn't misleading, but Sen. Coleman's argument is

Employee Free Choice Act isn't misleading, but Sen. Coleman's argument is

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_6243784?nclick_check=1

BRAD SLAWSON JR. and RAY WALDRON


Article Last Updated: 06/27/2007 06:56:06 PM CDT

There are, undoubtedly, a few things that we can all agree on these days. We all want to work hard and to support our families. We all want our kids to do better than we did. We all want a little piece of the American Dream.

And for most Minnesotans, that means having a good job that supports our families, offers access to affordable health care, and gives us the promise of a secure retirement.

Too many hard-working Minnesotans today are juggling two and three jobs just to make ends meet. They can't afford health insurance for their families, and they're having a hard time thinking about retirement, much less saving for it.

They're bone-tired, they want a fair reward for their hard work and they are interested in working together to improve their jobs and their lives. Not surprisingly, a recent survey conducted for the AFL-CIO found that 60 million workers would "join a union today" if they could.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that full-time wage and salary workers who were union members had median weekly earnings of $833 in 2006, compared with a median of $642 for wage and salary workers who were not represented by a union.

Unfortunately, it is pretty tough to form a union in today's workplaces. On average, every 23 minutes in this country, a worker is fired or discriminated against for his or her support of a union. A law that passed the U.S. House several months ago, the Employee Free Choice Act, would have allowed working people the freedom to form a union without the threat of termination or intimidation on the job.

This week, Sen. Norm Coleman voted against that law.

Analysts, from U of M Professor Emeritus Richard Levins to broadcaster Lou Dobbs, have said the Employee Free Choice Act is one way to start rebuilding America's weakened middle class. And Coleman voted against it.

He outlined the reasons for his vote in Tuesday's Pioneer Press, saying that he opposes the act in order to "protect workers' right to secret ballot elections."

Whoops. Those rights are safe under the Employee Free Choice Act. In fact, in April a group of union members met with a staffer in the senator's St. Paul office to explain that.

The Employee Free Choice Act does not deny workers the right to a unionizing election - it simply stops employers from forcing one. It does nothing to change the law that if one-third of workers want a National Labor Relations Board election at their workplace, they can still ask the federal government to hold one.

Nowhere in the bill does it repeal or restrict the provision of the National Labor Relations Act that workers now use to petition for a secret-ballot election - Section 9(c)(1)(A). Workers could continue to file an "RC petition" to request a secret-ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, just as they do now.

The senator knew - or at the very least had the opportunity to know -- that the Employee Free Choice Act would not limit secret ballot union elections long before he voted against the pro-worker bill Tuesday. Working Minnesotans deserve better.

Brad A. Slawson Jr. is chair of Change to Win Minnesota (CtW), an affiliation of unions. Ray Waldron is president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO.





My response:

Brad Slawson and Ray Waldron should know about "misleading;" they have been misleading working people for years.

The "Employee Free Choice Act" will have little affect on workers in Minnesota until "at will hiring, at will firing" is repealed; Slawson and Waldron ignore this little fact because their friends in the MN DFL might get upset if they bring it up.

So far, neither Waldron nor Slawson has asked their friends in the MN DFL Legislative Caucus to repeal this hideous "at will hiring, at will firing" law. In fact, when I made a motion at the last two state conventions of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party to support repeal of "at will hiring, at will firing" Waldron "organized" his members to vote "no." This was the most organizing I have ever seen out of Waldron and it really stressed, and stretched, his organizing talent; so much so he hasn't engaged in any organizing activity since.

Reading Slawson and Waldron talking about union organizing would in itself be a big fat joke if not so sad... as thousands of Minnesotans are suffering as they point out, even if hypocritically so on their part.

Both Slawson and Waldron have sat in silence as more than 20,000 of their brothers and sisters continue to go to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights what-so-ever under state, federal, or tribal labor laws at poverty wages under the most atrocious and Draconian working conditions without any voice at work.

As long as this many workers are employed under such conditions they are a club over the heads of all workers in Minnesota... driving wages down and thwarting union organizing drives in other industries while making contract negotiations more difficult, and enforcing the negotiated contracts even harder.

Furthermore, Mr. Slawson's members are working--- at this very moment--- under terms of illegal "sweetheart" contracts on both the Grand Casino in Hinkley and Black Bear Casino south of Duluth... not to mention the Island Casino near Escanaba, Michigan and the huge new casino being built in Petoskey, Michigan... Mr. Slawson has agreed to not organizing casino workers in return for his members getting work on construction on these casinos. Not only this, Mr. Slawson has agreed to the most outlandish method of enforcing health and safety on these casino construction sites... he has placed management in charge of health and safety inspections instead of state and federal inspectors.

The only union contracts Waldron and Slawson are capable of negotiating are crooked and corrupt sweetheart contracts; many of the contracts covering their workers provide nothing more than poverty wages...

"Employee Free Choice" might help some workers organize but not as long as these two gentlemen head up the union movement in Minnesota where "at will hiring, at will firing" is the law.

By the way... "Employee Free Choice" is just like other labor laws as far as casino workers are concerned... it won't help these 20,000 Minnesotans at all... of course, this is of no concern to Slawson or Waldron who are more interested in making an attack on Coleman than on organizing workers. Perhaps Cerisi will provide the same kind of loyalty to working people as that shown by DFL'er Senator Metzen and his committee when it came to legislation to save the Ford Plant... again, Slawson and Waldron were silent as Ford began building its new Ranger trucks in Thailand under the watchful eye of Senator Dayton... and Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar has been silent. Neither Waldron or Slawson have come out in support of the only way of saving 2,000 union jobs at the Ford Twin Cities Plant... did either of these gentleman ever take the time to consider the tremendous organizing effort over many years that went into organizing this Plant? Does either gentleman take the time to consider how much resources it will gobble up from member dues to organize 2,000 workers in another industry or workplace/s--- even with the "Employee Free Choice Act?"

As for Slawson and Waldron being concerned about workers' health care, again, give me another break. If either Slawson or Waldron had one iota of concern for what kind of health care working people have access to they would pile all their members on buses and tell their friends in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party to get on with passing real single-payer, universal health care legislation; then invite the rest of Minnesotans to board buses to watch the Governor decide whether or not he will sign the legislation... of course, this would take some amount of organizing ability which both of these "labor" leaders seem to lack.

Before workers can organize in their workplaces they need union leaders who will back their efforts... with, or without, the approval from the bosses.

"Employee Free Choice Act" yes; plus, union leaders who dare to struggle, and dare to win.

Yes, Norm Coleman voted against the "Employee Free Choice Act;" but, Slawson's and Waldron's members continue to work under terms of "sweetheart" contracts on casino construction projects, and their members continue to sit at slot machines as we try to organize Minnesota's 20,000 casino workers and convince Minnesota's Democratic Farmer-Labor Party legislators that casino workers are entitled to the same rights and protections all other workers enjoy under state and federal labor laws, and casino workers are entitled to the same "voice at work" members of CtW and the MN AFL-CIO have.

At one time Slawson and Waldron were out campaigning to elect Norm Coleman; now they cry over the way he voted--- as they sit in silence as 20,000 Minnesotans go to work in smoke-filled casinos without any rights. And they don't even care that the "Employee Free Choice Act" will not cover casino workers.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing
Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees' Union Organizing Committee

Democracy, the MN DFL, and the Fourth of July

My Yahoo e-mail account was “deactivated” as a result of a vicious campaign being waged against me by the casino industry together with the leadership of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party--- Brian Melendez, Chair (see photo); Susan Rego, Secretary; and, Andrew O’Leary, Executive Director. Of course they had considerable help from the well-heeled members of the Summit Hill club, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, and the MN DFL Business Caucus.

Melendez, O’Leary, and Rego have joined together with United States Information Services (USIS) the union busting outfit which is now into the “contractor business” in Iraq with its partner, the Blackwater Agency.

USIS was initially hired by Red Lake Gaming Enterprises and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association to thwart our efforts to unionize the casino industry in Minnesota.

USIS is also a major player in investigations for the health insurance rackets with offices located throughout Minnesota.

In short, USIS combines to do all the dirty deeds that the Pinkerton Agency, the FBI, and the CIA are not allowed to do… from carrying out assassination plots overseas to disrupting union organizing campaigns--- domestically and abroad.

USIS does dirty work for Cleveland Cliffs and United States Steel. USIS is also employed by General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford to root out rank and file union activists opposed to concessions and plant closings.

An agent of United States Information Services (USIS), George Armstrong, has been placed in charge of the operation being conducted against me and the Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees’ Union Organizing Committee. The FBI dossier maintained on me was even turned over to Red Lake Gaming Enterprises by USIS agent George Armstrong and staff from the United States Department of Justice.

USIS agent George Armstrong was successful in engaging the cooperation of Warroad Police Chief Lawrence Wright who ordered, in a written warning letter that our union organizing committee halt distribution of leaflets on sidewalks in Warroad lest we be “arrested and fined for illegal distribution of printed materials while trespassing,” claiming that “…sidewalks are private property. Owners of this private property choose to allow the public to use these sidewalks for the sole purpose of walking. Permission has not been granted by the private owners of these sidewalks in Warroad for any other purposes.”

As expected, the attorney representing the City of Warroad backed up this definition of what sidewalks are and what they can’t be used for. One expects this kind of convoluted logic to be used by the Chief of Police in a company town controlled by the Marvin Family while making millions manufacturing shoddy windows and doors for over one hundred years.

When threatened with a multi-million dollar law-suit in the form of a claim for damages, the Warroad Chief of Police “reconsidered” his interpretation of sidewalks and leaflet distributions.

Armstrong began his career with Naval Intelligence. He then got a job based upon his “expertise” with the Federal Bureau Investigation. After being fired from his job with the FBI for demonstrating his “expertise” when a U.S. Senate over site committee found him to have been engaged in illegal surveillance methods including tampering with and opening U.S. mail, placing false information in government data files, falsifying information including his own and colleagues’ reports, and placing illegal taps on telephone lines, Armstrong then gained employment with USIS--- specializing in union busting.

For complete information on USIS visit their web page:

http://www.usis.com/

United States Information Services is a huge operation serving casino managements, corporate, banking, military, insurance, and reactionary and corrupt political parties from its offices all over the world.

Brian Melendez, the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, has never raised his voice in support of his 20,000 fellow Minnesotans who go to work in these smoke-filled casinos without any rights under state, federal, or tribal labor laws--- all employed under these Draconian conditions without a voice at work; and, all receiving poverty wages.

Melendez does continue to refer to these casino managements as, “Our Native American friends in the gaming industry.”

Some “friends” Melendez and the MN DFL have chosen.

Yahoo, Inc., and CenturyTel--- my current internet service provider, both admit that Armstrong has contacted them claiming to represent Brian Melendez and the DFL Executive Committee.

To date, Yahoo, Inc. has gone along with Armstrong, who was accompanied by FBI Special Agents in meetings with Yahoo, Inc. management. As a result, Yahoo, Inc. “deactivated” my e-mail account: red_finn_minnesota_progressive@yahoo.com without providing me with any verbal or written reason other than saying their Terms Of Service (TOS) allow them full power to arbitrarily “deactivate” anyone’s account without having to provide a reason; and, this they say, is what they have chosen to do with my account.

Yahoo, Inc.’s philosophy regarding democracy is perverted; but, quite fitting a philosophy for a dot com business which has made billions bilking the public in an industry wholly subsidized by the taxpayers where private industry is allowed to profit without any oversights or restraints.

CenturyTel management has a similar, but slightly different, story to tell. Their management claims they were approached by Armstrong and four FBI agents with a letter in hand, stating that I am a “designated security risk” to the United States government and that I am “indexed” as such in the files and records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that the “indexing” has been approved, in writing, by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III who has asserted in this letter that “subject is a known to the Bureau for dispensing views and engaged in activities inimical to the United States government, its domestic and foreign policies.” The letter goes on to state that I use “telephone and internet communication services including e-mail and blogging” to “achieve” these “goals and objectives.”

To date, CenturyTel, my Internet Service Provider (ISP) has refused to go along with the request to halt my internet services which I lawfully use (and pay for) under my First Amendment Rights of freedom of speech and association; no doubt they have granted the FBI the right to access my account as people are now reporting receiving e-mails from accounts claiming to have been created by me while using CenturyTel services.

In fact I sign my name to every single thing I write and distribute; I always have.

This is what scares these cowards like Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary along with the casino managements. After all, if I am writing anything that is untrue, all they have to do is respond… I have even offered Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary the opportunity to use my own blog for their responses to me; they have refused. Instead, they engage in these dirty tricks and dirty deeds like little Hitlers--- goose-stepping back-wards as they trample on our democratic rights. On numerous occasions I have offered my blog space to Floyd Jourdain to respond to charges I have made against casino managements.

Google, Inc. management is refusing all comment although it is quite apparent they are tolerating a counter intelligence type operation directed against me and my blogging as can be seen by the vicious nature of the anonymous blog postings and web sites they have allowed to be operated against me. Google has tolerated the misuse of my own blog name in order to confuse those using the Google search engine to locate my blogs.

This can readily be seen by clicking the link below and clicking on each listed “blog” link:

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&ui=blg&q=thepodunkblog&btnG=Search+Blogs

Four of the six blogs listed are phony blogs designed to skew and disorient the Google search engine. The intent of these blog listings is quite obvious as they have no other intended purpose.

Someone has taken the time to create such phony blogs for each of the headings for every topic I have blogged. Again, these cowards could have simply created their own blogs and provided a response.

Melendez has gone on and on about what a terrible person I am using the MN DFL State Central Committee list serve while barring me from the same list serve... this takes a brave individual to do this... sometimes I wonder how the human race produces such pathetic excuses for human beings.

Previously, a supporter of Mike Hatch employed in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office--- and a MN DFL Congressional District Chair--- was linked to creating such phony blogs rather than responding to what I have written; all with the intended purpose of skewing search engines. It is amazing that these political hacks have time for such games as real problems working people are experiencing go unresolved. Again, the police and prosecutors say there is nothing illegal about such activity… but, come on, even a school child can recognize this as sleazy and unethical behavior.

Taking that such activities on the part of the FBI, Minnesota DFL Executive Committee, United States Information Services and Homeland Security may not be illegal and within the guidelines of permitted Constitutional activity recognized by U.S. Attorney General Gonzalez, which I do not accede to, such activity is highly unethical and immoral--- the epitome of a corrupt political machine trying to save a rotten capitalist system which has spawned this political mess in the same manner as the health care mess and the dirty war in Iraq.

My blogging and e-mailing is carried out in the same spirit and intent as leaflets and pamphlets previously written, published, and distributed by our Founding Fathers and Mothers; including Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin and the washer-women and glass-blowers of Jamestown who organized the first strike in America; while the content of what I write is no more “inimical” to the United States than the words of Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, or Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.

It is ironic that during another time and another period, noted author and Communist--- Howard Fast--- was black-listed and hounded for writing a novel about Thomas Paine--- writer, citizen-activist and patriot.

These charlatans and political hacks who pass themselves off as “leaders” of the MN DFL pathetically call for more “studies” and “research” into the cancer cluster on the Iron Range while irresponsibly evading calling for immediate implementation of single-payer, universal health care in order to provide real assistance to those suffering the consequences of these cancers and their families who will continue to be plagued with a horrendous pile of medical bills for the rest of their lives.

Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary have more in common with Elmer Gantry and Pat Robertson than with democratic principles.

No wonder the rest of the world is laughing--- when not crying and anguishing in the pain and misery in the wake of this dirty war in Iraq and the untold suffering people are forced to endure by this rotten imperialist stage of capitalism which has turned cannibalistic.

Capitalism is “inimical” to the human race and democracy.

Brian Melendez, Susan Rego and Andrew O’Leary were hand-picked by “Cadillac Mike” to continue running the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party on behalf of the Mondale-Kaplan-Ceresi crowd.

What this Summit Hill club along with the DFL Business Caucus and their cronies in the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce really resent is when working people actually articulate positions in opposition to their own racist, pro-business, pro-war policies which have allowed working people to suffer and die as the corporate community profits through the exploitation of labor and real estate swindles; not to mention the tremendous wealth that has been accumulated through boot-legging and illegal gambling turned into an empire of state protected liquor stores and casino operations.

This corrupt little bunch of arrogant, well-heeled politicians and their well-paid political hacks now living, appropriately, in what used to be the servants’ quarters on Summit Hill, have twisted the concept of democracy into something so perverse that it has no association with what the founders of this Nation ever intended.

Yahoo, Inc. acknowledges that they turned over to the FBI the entire contents of my Yahoo e-mail including correspondence, and over 4,500 names and e-mail addresses along with phone numbers, addresses and in some cases employment information. Brian Melendez and the leadership of the Minnesota DFL has enabled the FBI and USIS to obtain a list of some 4,500 peace, labor, and social justice activists across the United States and Canada… talk about doing dirty work.

Oh, I forgot to mention something… Yahoo, Inc. has been a long time business partner with USIS in China aimed at subverting trade union activity in Wal-mart’s operations.

A concept and what it means, which you may want to ponder while sitting around the picnic table with family, relatives and friends this Fourth of July--- a concept which is increasingly becoming a distant, alien, strange and foreign concept perverted by the big-money crowd here in Minnesota: democracy.

An after-thought---

Had Brian Melendez and his wrecking crew of Susan Rego and Andrew O’Leary put as much effort into a campaign for single-payer, universal health care as what the delegates to the last state convention instructed him to do instead of trying to silence me, the Minnesota DFL Legislative Caucus would have passed single-payer, universal health care legislation. Buses filled with thirty thousand Minnesotans would be rolling towards the Cities insisting Pawlenty sign the legislation… as we are well aware, single-payer, universal health care is universally accepted and supported by Minnesotans regardless of party affiliation.

Cancer toll for Iron Range miners grows; so does need for single-payer, universal health care...

As the cancer toll for Iron Range miners grows; the need for single-payer, universal health care becomes a more urgent issue.

What I don't understand about this entire story on cancer on the Iron Range is why the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party was not on top of this situation long ago. Why would the DFL have needed Pawlenty to tell them about this problem?

Has there been no communication between the medical community and unions? No communication between research centers and unions? What gives here? Certainly, someone in labor was responsible for touching base with the medical and research communities. Are we to believe so many people have been asleep at the switch so to speak; or quite frankly just don’t care about doing their jobs in a conscientious manner? It has to be one or the other. There is no way a problem of this magnitude which has been so devastating to so many individuals and their families could not have been widely known.

The people who should have cared and been concerned didn’t care; this is the bottom line. This is what we get when politics becomes a mere game rather than a means to an end in making life better for working people.

James Oberstar has represented this area for over thirty years and is well known for his excellent constituency outreach services which he claims is the best in the nation; and, his constituency assistant Peter Makowski is a former miner and union official.

How could it be that Mr. Bratulich the International Rep. for United Steel Workers Union with his office right smack dab in the center of the Iron Range in downtown Eveleth, Minnesota where retirees meet could have been unaware of all of this... what about the United Steel Workers Health and Safety people... what kind of relationship do any of these people really have with the rank and file workers and the people living on the Iron Range that they were not on top of this situation already?

Mr. Bratulich sat in his Eveleth office playing computer games as a single-mom fought to save her home after the death of her father--- a life long miner and USWA member--- died from cancer and left the family with a horrendous medical bill and the greedy medical establishment took their family home in payment. Congressman Oberstar was asked to help and he did just what Mr. Bratulich asked him to do: nothing. Peter Makowski sat in his office in Chisholm… never budged.

We know what to expect from a viciously anti-labor Pawlenty administration.

But, these are people who are supposed to know what is going on with the families in their communities... one would think they would know to keep alert to health issues of this magnitude.

One of the big problems with Iron Range politics is James Oberstar. He lives in Washington D.C. toodling around town on his high-priced bicycle in an affluent neighborhood and comes back to his district to walk in Fourth of July Parades to wave to people and shake hands and throw a few pieces of candy to the kids… this is the extent of his connection to the 8th Congressional District. He sets the “example” for Iron Range politics. He is backed by union leaders who apparently don’t have much more enthusiasm to get out and find out what is going on any more than their trophy politician Oberstar does.

It is kind of far fetched for me to believe these people are as ignorant of the situation as they claim to be.

Has not one of these families with a loved one suffering from this painful and deadly cancer ever sought assistance from the union, their Congressman, or State Legislators... come on people, wake up; we relied on these people to be on top of all of this because we all know Pawlenty and his administration only have one concern... that concern is for the profits of the mining industry which has subsidized their campaign... but, union members also have paid dues and contributed very heavily to the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

The entire mess is just sickening.

Working people pay with their labor and their health; the mining companies profit, as the circus in the Cities continues and people still are buying tickets to see the same old show.

I seriously believe that the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party isn’t going to accomplish anything until they get some good stiff competition that isn’t afraid to stand up for what is right instead of playing these stupid and senseless political games which leave people dying in the pits and in Iraq with our tax dollars subsidizing this whole rotten mess when we should at least be getting single-payer, universal health care… until the competition arrives on the political scene and rank and file organization takes shape in the unions, we can expect to see a lot more game playing on the nightly news while working people pay the ultimate price with their lives.

The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party now calls for funding more research into cancers on the Iron Range when the DFL should be calling for a fully funded, comprehensive, all-inclusive, single-payer, universal health care system.

It is completely irresponsible for the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s Legislative Caucus to continue holding off in calling for real single-payer, universal health care in response to this present horrendous health care mess.

The time has come for us to take thirty thousand Minnesotans to go talk to Legislators and the Governor.

Cancer on the Iron Range and in Minnesota Casinos

Many resolutions such as the one I have posted below have come from the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

There is a blatant hypocrisy to these resolutions in that Minnesota's more than 20,000 (and growing) casino workers were not mentioned in any of these resolutions; nor covered by the new "Freedom to Breathe" legislation.

This has not been by accident. Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez [pictured below], the handpicked Summit Hill club successor to "Cadillac Mike," has repeatedly referred to the casino industry as, "Our Native American friends in the casino business."

It is no coincidence that Melendez has demonstrated the same hypocrisy towards Iron Range miners who have been suffering work and environmental related cancers for many years as the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has been fully aware that the Iron Range was a very unique and significant "cancer cluster" in the United States. There was no need for Melendez and the Minnesota DFL to take note of this only as a means of "making political hay" at the expense of a well-known anti-labor, anti-people governor. Melendez, as are all Minnesota legislators including Iron Range legislators, have been fully aware of the problem with these cancers. James Oberstar has concealed, and kept his mouth shut about this issue for well over 30 years--- from the time he worked for that pathetic corrupt politician Blatnik.

The question is begging to be asked: Why did Melendez wait until now to utter a word about a problem he has known about? The answer is obvious; for Melendez politics is a mere game. For working people politics is about life, and in this case, death.

In the very same manner that Melendez has continued a more than fifty year Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party "tradition" of evading this "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range, he--- and the MN DFL--- continue to ignore the plight of casino workers when it comes to the effects of second hand-smoke.

In fact, in a personal conversation I had with unsuccessful Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party United States Senate candidate, Ford Bell, who asked me to endorse him for his U.S. Senate bid, Ford Bell acknowledged that casino workers were the largest group of workers being hurt by second-hand smoke. Ford Bell should know; he is the past President and Chief Executive Officer of one of the leading organizations in the world on the effects of second-hand smoke in the working environment--- his own biography states: From 1995 to 2005, he served as President and CEO of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, a prominent research organization and one of the largest providers of community heart health education in the United States. At least Ford Bell did have the political and moral courage to vigorously make single-payer, universal health care one of two primary platforms of his campaign; ending the dirty war in Iraq being the other.

Here again, Brian Melendez and this arrogant leadership at the helm of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, while making the pretense of remaining impartial, even manipulated and maneuvered to sink Ford Bell's campaign for United States Senate.

During the 7th Congressional District Convention, Melendez and his little clique went so far as to try to prevent Ford Bell's campaign workers from distributing Bell's campaign material... it was only after my very vigorous and vocal intervention that Bell's campaign workers were allowed to distribute his material as all other candidates were afforded the opportunity. Any one can pick up the phone and call Ford Bell to verify this... or the Seventh District Chair who refused to intervene on Bell's behalf.

WE are talking about very basic and elemental issues of democracy being attacked by Chair Melendez and his wrecking crew of Susan Rego and Andrew O'Leary.

Ford Bell and I had a very cordial discussion about why I would not endorse him; although I did continue to state throughout the campaign that he was obviously a better candidate for the MN DFL to put forward than Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar who has never taken anything but an opportunist stand on any issue... once in awhile she happens to take a correct position, but the action is one of political expediency rather than based upon any kind of moral or political courage.

Ford Bell refused to take up the issue of the right of casino workers to be free from second-hand smoke as a condition I placed upon him for my endorsement--- he lost the nomination for the United States Senate to Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar whose big campaign boast was that her grandfather was "a miner on the Iron Range."

In fact, Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar's grandfather was a straw boss for the mining company and from this position "fingered" many miners who were involved in the struggle to unionize the mines who upon being fingered lost their jobs along with their health in later life; but, this isn't the point, here; even though this gives us an idea of her moral and political integrity. The point is, Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar used her association as coming from a mining family, but refused to refer to the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range in her campaign--- and once elected, in the very same manner she has refused, like the rest of the Minnesota DFL [with the exception of the Roseau County DFL]to respond to the health related problems of casino workers to second-hand smoke.

In fact, the DFL has very hypocritically refused to mention the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range while simultaneously ignoring a similar health related plight of casino workers.

In fact, Minnestota Farmer-Labor Party organizer and Communist Party member--- United States Congressman John Bernard--- requested the United States Congress investigate this "cancer cluster" in 1936 immediately after his election to the United States House of Representatives. He was backed up in this request by his long-time friend and socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party Governor, Elmer Benson. As far back as 1928, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Communist Party organizer who helped to spearhead the union organizing efforts of the Red Finns which successfully organized the mines on the Iron Range was referring to "work related hazards... including deadly cancers" among "iron ore miners on Minnesota's Iron Range" as she criss crossed the United States making our nation's working class aware of the struggles of iron ore miners for justice and human dignity; Flynn made impassioned pleas for solidarity with iron ore miners on the Mesabi Iron Range.

We need to ask "why" every single thing affecting the lives of working people--- their employment, their communities, and now even their health--- is viewed by the DFL Legislative Caucus and the Brian Melendez leadership as part of a political game; worthy of mere press releases aimed at embarrassing an anti-labor Republican Governor who needs no help in this respect?

Mr. Melendez has led the fight AGAINST single-payer, universal health care and has actively "strategized" in developing "tactics" aimed at confusing Minnesotans as to what single-payer, universal health care really is all about; again, as part of his political games and cruel shenanigans.

We have all seen and heard the responses from DFL legislators concerning Pawlenty with-holding information on this "cancer cluster" which further documents a problem we have all known has existed for years. What did we see and hear? A justifiable attack on Pawlenty and this horrendously anti-labor Republican administration.

However, what was lacking was any mention of the need for single-payer, universal health care in helping these miners and their families suffering from these cancers which are work and environmentally related.

The Minnesota DFL has consistently ignored the warnings from former United States District Court Judge Miles Lord of the cancer related problems associated with iron ore mining and the taconite industry... just as the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has continued to ignore the plight of casino workers and second-hand smoke. Just as this "cancer cluster" signifies a pattern, so too does the silence of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

Perhaps if these political opportunists had family members suffering from the work-place and environmental related cancers in the mining communities and in the casinos we would be hearing a little different story on the nightly news.

This resolution below intentionally excludes casino workers. The writer of this resolution was fully aware that casino workers would not be included in the "Freedom to Breathe" legislation, yet, in the most arrogantly racist and anti-labor manner, without any regard to the health hazards particularly to young working women of child-bearing age, went right ahead and used the term: "all workers in Minnesota."

Again, no mention of "single-payer, universal health care" in this resolution even though the writer of this resolution was fully aware that Minnesota workers suffering the health consequences of second-hand smoke are having their homes taken away from them to cover health related expenses.

Again, the resolution refers to "all workplaces in Minnesota" need to be smoke-free, fully aware that this legislation would not apply to casino workers.

Here is the resolution:

Freedom To Breath - Smoke Free Minnesota Resolution
Submitted by mmcintee on Mon, 03/06/2006 - 6:40pm. Resolutions

WHEREAS, secondhand smoke kills 38,000 Americans every year from cardiovascular disease and lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, worksites and public places are locations where both members of the community and employees of those establishments are exposed to secondhand smoke; and

WHEREAS, most but not all workers in Minnesota are protected from secondhand smoke through smoke-free workplace policies; and

WHEREAS, restaurant and particularly bar workers are most exposed, most vulnerable and least protected from secondhand smoke in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, the DFL's Ongoing Platform supports reasonable regulations that ensure safety and the rights of all workers; and

WHEREAS, employees should not be forced to risk their health through exposure to dangerous and deadly toxins in their workplace; and

WHEREAS, the DFL's Ongoing Platform supports living and working conditions free from significant exposure to poisons; and

WHEREAS, the most effective way to protect employee and public health from the hazards of secondhand smoke is to prohibit the causes of secondhand smoke by creating smoke-free environments,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party supports a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law ensuring that all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, become smoke-free and include this support as an Action Agenda Item in the DFL's ongoing platform.

I wrote a response to this arrogant, anti-labor, racist hypocrisy of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party which was published in the TimberJay newspaper, an Iron Range newspaper. I publish it below:

Letter to the editor published in Timberjay Newspaper

Link: http://timberjay.com/current.php?article=3361

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Volume 18, Issue 22

Legislators should show concern for casino workers

Over twenty thousand Minnesotans go to work in smoke-filled casinos everyday. State legislators don’t care about casino workers or casino patrons who are the same people they say they are protecting from second-hand smoke everyplace else with the new “Freedom to Breath” legislation.

If state legislators would show some concern for these 20,000 casino workers employed in an industry making money hand over fist, which subjects casino workers not only to the health hazards of second-hand smoke, but leaves them completely at the mercy of managements that have no respect for working people and their right to be employed in a healthy and safe workplace to begin with, Reps. David Dill and Tom Rukavina would not have to be complaining of an “uneven playing field.”

People sit in bars by choice; people work in these casinos because they need a job. There is a big difference; both Dill and Rukavina should be able to understand this. Workers have a right to expect that state legislators will not throw them into situations where they have no rights under state or federal labor laws and now without the protection of “Freedom To Breath” legislation, something state legislators have done with casino workers.

Who has allowed such an “uneven playing field” to develop in the first place? These legislators should look in the mirror.

It is up to Dill and Rukavina to stop crying about this smoking ban and the “uneven playing field” they created in the first place and continue to tolerate... their concern should be for the health of all workers, including casino workers, and Dill and Rukavina should take the appropriate measures to “level the playing field” by making sure all workers, including casino workers, have the right to be employed in safe and healthy work environments protected by the same state and federal labor laws that protect all other workers.

I have a great deal of respect for Rep. Rukavina and support just about everything he does as a state Legislator, but on this issue he is all wrong. Rep. Rukavina is concerned about a few bar owners when he should be concerned about the people working in these bars for eight, ten, and twelve hours who breathe in this second-hand smoke.

I am quite sure I speak for all of organized labor on this; I know I speak for most working people who want to be employed in a healthy and safe working environment.

Mr. Maki is Director of Organizing- Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees’ Union Organizing Committee and serves on the DFL State Central Committee.

Whether we are speaking of the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range or more than 20,000 Minnesotans working in casinos... time, and time again, we are seeing demonstrated the same uncaring and insensitive attitude towards working people by the DFL Legislative Caucus and the present opportunist leadership of the party hacks who have a strangle-hold on the DFL Party organization and apparatus.

Time, and time again, we see how these cowardly political hacks resort to the same vicious smear campaigns trying to silence their critics. I am not their first target, I will not be their last... unless those who respect working people and grassroots activists put an end to this sad, sad state of affairs in the MN DFL where the very lives of working people are being used to play political games rather than solving the problems at hand people will begin to look for other political alternatives in solving their problems; I for one, think it would be good if an alternative to the do-nothing politics of the MN DFL developed... the sooner the better; this would be healthier for democracy; this would be healthier for our state and Minnesota's working people... yes, there is a pun intended.